Freedom to Marry and Servicemembers Legal Defense Network announced their latest campaign titled ‘Freedom to Serve, Freedom to Marry’ on Wednesday. The two organizations released a new online video to coincide with the launch.

The roughly three-minute clip outlines the struggles that LGBT troops and their loved ones face because of the 1996 law that bars federal recognition of same-sex marriages. Despite the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ gay servicemembers and their spouses do NOT receive the same military benefits afforded to straight couples.

SLDN Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis says ALL people–especially military personnel–should be treated equally under the law. But he says that won’t happen until the government provides the nearly 1100 federal protections currently denied to LGBT families because of DOMA.

SARVIS: Here are these brave patriots who are fighting for us, defending our freedoms around the world, and yet the reality is, they are still being treated in some very important ways as second-class citizens when they come home.

SLDN has already filed suit against the federal government on behalf of eight married gay and lesbian servicemembers seeking military benefits for their spouses. House Republicans say they will intervene in the case now that the Obama administration has dropped defense of DOMA in court.

Sarvis notes that President Obama cited the plight of LGBT troops as one of the reasons he now supports full marriage equality.

Last July Jan van Lohuizen co-authored a memo with Democratic pollster Joel Benenson. Together they reviewed polling data that shows more and more Americans approving of marriage equality, across all demographic groups, and at an accellerating pace.

But they left the political recommendations to the group that commissioned the analysis, Freedom to Marry, which characterized it as proof it’s becoming safer for politicians to come out for same-sex marriage.

But a lot has changed in a year. NOW, Van Lohuizen is suggesting that Republican politicians come out in favor of legal recognition for same-sex couples if they don’t want to risk getting stranded by the shifting political tides.

As last year, Van Lohuizen’s argument rests on polling data–now updated–that shows “support has grown at an accelerated rate with no sign of slowing down.” Backing for gay marriage is growing among Republicans as well as Democrats. He notes that majorities of Republicans support SOME form of recognition for gay couples, as well as employment protections, and repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.

So Van Lohuizen is now recommending pro-equality talking points for GOP lawmakers and candidates. They include reassurance that “this is not about giving anyone extra protections or privileges.” Wrapping LGBT rights in conservative bunting: Language about “personal responsibility, family values, commitment and stability,” and most notably adopting former vice president Dick Cheney’s formulation that “freedom means freedom for everyone.”

The president’s remarks came just days after Vice President Joe Biden said he was “absolutely comfortable” with same-sex marriage, and Education Secretary Arne Duncan said that he, too, backs gay marriage.

OBAMA: Over the course of several years, as I talked to friends and family and neighbors. When I think about members of my own staff who are in incredibly committed monogamous relationships, same-sex relationships, who are raising kids together, when I about those soldiers or airmen or Marines, sailors, who are out their fighting on my behalf yet feel constrained, even now that don’t ask don’t tell is gone, because they’re not able to commit themselves in a marriage; At a certain point I’ve just concluded that for me personally, it is important for me to go ahead and affirm I think same sex couples should be able to get married.

The five-member Equal Employment Opportunity Commission—or EEOC—unanimously concluded that “intentional discrimination” based on an employee’s gender identity violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. That law protects workers based on their sex, race, color, religion, or national origin.

The EEOC’s opinion is a win for former police detective Mia Macy. She’s a transgender woman who claims she was denied employment as a ballistics technician with the Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives—the ATF—after she disclosed her intentions to transition.

Macy says while the experience was both “devastating” and “humiliating,” she’s glad other transgender workers can now benefit from Monday’s decision, which the ATF CANNOT appeal.

MACY: I think the most important thing for me to get out there is that the decision isn’t just for me. I mean, it’s good for me, but this is a door that’s opening now a little wider for a lot of other transgenders that have to go through this for employment issues.

Legal experts note that the EEOC’s ruling impacts EVERY employer throughtout the nation—both public and private—and is binding on ALL federal agencies and departments. But they stress that a trans-inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act is still needed to protect both transpeople AND gays and lesbians, whom the EEOC ruling does not cover.

Also, trans workers who suspect that they’re the victims of workplace bias can now bring their claims to ANY of the EEOC’s field offices. Advocates say that’s significant since an estimated 75-percent of ALL trans people experience workplace discrimination.

Mia Macy’s lawyers say they’re now seeking compensatory damages including back pay for their client, who lost her home to foreclosure because of the ordeal.

The LGBT organization GetEQUAL will protest at Obama reelection campaign headquarters nationwide starting next week. The group’s managing director–Heather Cronk–tells OutQ News that they’re also prepared to travel to Washington, D.C., and stage non-violent civil disobedience. GetEQUAL activists used a similar approach in 2010 when they chained themselves to the White House fence to rally behind ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ repeal.

Cronk says the Obama administration mishandled the situation by giving what she described as a “silly response.” White House officials say the president is committed to raising support for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act in what some note is a sharply-divided Congress.

CRONK: It’s decisions like this, honestly, that give people pause, and not necessarily turn them on to Mitt Romney, but suppress donations, suppress volunteer hours and suppress enthusiasm. So if this is a political calculation that the campaign or the White House is making, it’s really, really bad political math.

Cronk says GetEQUAL is working with a number of donors like philanthropist Jonathan Lewis to fund their efforts, adding that 500 volunteers have already signed up to participate in the group’s direct actions.

The Washington Post reports that Lewis—the son of a billionaire Democratic benefactor—is also working with the advocacy group Freedom to Work. He’s pledged $100,000 to fund the ‘We Can’t Wait’ campaign, which will fly victims of discrimination at federal contractors to confront Obama on the issue.

Advocates say an LGBT-inclusive executive order would protect an additional 16 MILLION workers.

Servicemembers Legal Defense Network says Staff Sergeant Anthony Loverde will return to the U.S. Air Force next month when he’s assigned to a squadron based in Little Rock, Arkansas. He was discharged back in 2008 after seven years in the ranks.

Loverde says while there’s still a lot of work ahead for him, he’s “never wanted to do anything else.”

LOVERDE: I almost still, to this point, even though I know it’s set and it’s happening, I don’t want to get my hopes up (laughter). So, I guess until I’m really wearing that uniform again, and I swear in next month, I’m excited, but I don’t know if it’s really, really set in.

Loverde adds that’s he’s “perfectly confident” that he’s returning to a “supportive environment.”

With SLDN’s help, Loverde and two other servicemembers filed suit against the federal government in 2010, challenging the constitutionality of their dismissals and seeking their reinstatement to active duty. SLDN notes that other military personnel discharged under ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ can ONLY reapply for RE-ENTRY right now—meaning they have to go “to the back of the line” alongside new recruits.

Another SLDN client—Petty Officer 2nd Class Jase Daniels—won reinstatement as a Navy linguist last December, becoming the FIRST servicemember allowed to return to his previous rank post-repeal.

Joseph Amodeo resigned from the Junior Board of Catholic Charities two weeks ago, citing both Dolan’s refusal to help teens at New York’s Ali Forney Center and the Church hierarchy’s relentless use of anti-gay rhetoric. The religious education teacher has now launched an online petition asking Dolan–the President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops–to meet with members of the LGBT community.

Amodeo tells OutQ News that the petition is more of an invitation to start a dialogue with the local archdiocese and to exercise a “teachable moment.” He says it’s important to point out that the Church hierarcy does NOT represent the vast majority of Catholics, who now tend to support LGBT rights.

AMODEO: At the same time, I think what’s more important is that Catholics have started to realize that we should speak up, that when there is an injustice, if the hierarchy is not acting the way Christ would act, that’s when we as Catholics, gay or straight, have an obligation to really stand up and to say ‘something’s wrong here’ and we need to be the voice that calls the Church back to its pastoral mission.

Amodeo says while Dolan–and much of the Catholic leadership–is aware of his resignation, the Cardinal has yet to formally respond to the petition that now has about 400 signatures. It is set to be delivered to his office on May 17th, a Catholic holy day.

The gay media watchdog announced Saturday that its board of directors selected Herndon Graddick to lead its pack. Graddick has been GLAAD’s Vice President of Programs and Communications since 2010.

Graddick is responsible for leading the campaign AGAINST a Christian conservative group seeking to get Ellen DeGeneres fired as J.C.Penney’s spokesperson. He also oversaw the roll-out of GLAAD’s Commentator Accountability Project, which highlights the use of anti-gay voices as guests on cable news networks. He’s now working on separate video series with Hollywood producer Brett Ratner and a Massachusetts transgender advocacy group.

Graddick tells OutQ News that he’s “really conscious of the obligation” before him as president, but says he’s humbled by the honor and is “looking forward to the challenge.”

GRADDICK: The role of the president is to make sure that: one, that we keep on track and sort of are very mission-focused; but two, that the bills get paid and that we can continue to support ourselves in the work that we do.

Graddick adds that he’s focusing on “taking the organization into a number of new directions.” The veteran TV news producer says GLAAD is in the “constant process of evolving itself to meet the needs of the community.”

Graddick is replacing former President Jarrett Barrios–who along with a handful of board members–resigned last year amid controversy surrounding GLAAD’s endorsement of a proposed merger between AT&T and T-Mobile. Graddick will be formally introduced at the group’s media awards in Los Angeles this Saturday.

Anyone applying to transfer their drivers license to Florida must have a valid drivers license in another state, a social security card and birth certificate or Passport.

And that’s just want David Scott Duseau says he took with him to the DMV desk at a local tax collector’s office, along with his marriage certificate from Massachusetts.

And even though both his drivers license and social security card now have his married name, he tells OutQ News a Collier County DMV official wouldn’t recognize his new name because it was through a same-sex marriage.

Duseau: “I was pretty humiliated at the time, and angry. To be turned down by my government, that I support, was pretty infuriating actually.”

Florida, like many other states who haven’t approved them, doesn’t recognizes same-sex marriges from anywhere else.

The DMV says the only option for Duseau is for him to get a court order for the state to honor his new name.

Duseau says that’s unfair, and forces him to go through extra steps a straight person wouldn’t be subjected to.

The Collier County Tax Collector’s office and state DMV officials in Tallahassee have yet to respond to OutQ News for comment.

–Steve Newman in Sarasota

The gay media watchdog released the results of its joint study with the University of Missouri Center on Religion and the Professions on Thursday. The study examined more than 300 LGBT news stories from a three-year period that used nearly 1400 different religious sources on both T.V. and print media.

GLAAD found that THREE out of every FOUR religious messages used came from people whose faiths formally oppose LGBT equality, though acceptance of homosexuality in general continues to grow.

Ross Murray is the director of GLAAD’s Religion, Faith and Values Program. He says the findings prove that news outlets continue to resort to “the same [anti-gay] voices that they’ve used in the past,” thus neglecting to include PRO-LGBT religious voices in their coverage.

MURRAY: What it does, is it gives the impression that to be religious means you must be inherently anti-gay. And for someone to watch, must say, ‘Oh that’s what Christians are like, or that’s what religious people are like,’ and it doesn’t give a full point. And it’s harmful because it ignores the reality of all the religious folks that are LGBT supportive, and they’re not supportive despite their faith, they’re supportive because of it.

GLAAD noticed that the national media typically interview disapproving evangelical Christian individuals and organizations as counterpoint voices, saying they comprise about 40 percent of ALL anti-gay statements in the news. Catholics come in at a distant second with another 12 percent.

Murray says GLAAD is forwarding the study results to news outlets nationwide as an education tool. He adds that the group is now working to “amplify” the voices of faith leaders from LGBT affirming religions.